Fire alarm



Feb. 25, 1969 J. c. POWERS 3,430,219

Joseph C. Powers INVENTOR.

Feb. 25, 1969 J. c. POWERS 3,430,219

FIRE ALARM Filed July 22, 196e sheet 2 of 2 \30 Fig. 3 66 36 132 H0 Hloo "2 H8 aa [34 I fwum lum rm 1 106 loa Il /02 Joseph I C. Powers IN VENTOR. )1. im!" z 1 la 5a iVm-fi 62 BY ll- 64 m,

56 ,4 #W12 Mmmm United States Patent O 9 Claims This invention generallyappertains to improvements in `tire alarms and more, particularlyrelates to novel improvements in portable re alarms, which are adaptedto be disposed in a preset arrangement of potential operation at anydesired place within a dwelling or the like enclosure.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an extremelycompact, sturdy and efficient portable alarm which, when the temperatureconditions of the surrounding atmosphere reach a certain, preselectedvalue, will be effectively operative to indicate the presence of suchtemperature, occasioned by an accidental, hazardous, and undesiredfactor, such as the presence of a lire, by an alarm means that will bephysiologically disconcernible and recognizable by multiple senses of anindividual.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a sturdyand very ecient re alarm, which, when activated by a rise in temperatureconditions, will give oit an alarm that will be audible, an alarm thatwill be visible and an alarm that will be noticeable by the olfactorysenses, so that the alarm means is of a multisensual nature, namely,audible, visual and smellable.

Another important object of the present invention is t provide means forcreating the alarms, either in simultaneous or selected delayed fashion,such means being held in a restrained position of potential operationfor effecting the operation or actuation of the alarms with therestraining means being in the form of a fusible element that is meltedwhen the surrounding air reaches a preselected temperature.

In line with the foregoing, another important object of the presentinvention is to provide an alarm which is composed of a minimum -of`operating parts, so as to be less subject to malfunctioning, and whichincludes a control member that is held in a position of potential actionby a fusible plug and which is gravity driven or moved, upon melting ofthe fusible plug, so as to actuate the multiple alarm means, which haveappeal to the many senses of a person, who is either close to or inspaced proximity from the alarm.

A still further important object of the present invention is to providea self-contained alarm unit, which is extremely compact and portable andwhich can be placed for effective operation in any desired area, as, forexample, in a hotel or motel room by a traveler.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a fire alarm constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional view, takensubstantially on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyon the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic illustration of the wiring arrangement for theaudible and visual signalling means.

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IReferring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the lirealarm 10 includes a supporting means 12 which is composed of a bottomplate 14. A vertical supporting arm 16, which is in the nature of achannel member, upstands from the plate 14 and is preferably disposedalong the longitudinal side portion 15 of the upper face 18 of the plateand positioned substantially centrally between the ends 20 and 22 0f theplate. A bolt 24 is projected through a suitable opening in the webportion of the vertical supporting arm 16 and serves as a pivot orfulcrum for a lever arm 26, the arm 26 being formed with an opening,centrally disposed intermediate its end portions 28 and 30, to receivethe shank of the bolt, with the arm 26 being held in place for swingingmovement on the bolt shank by a nut 32 secured on the threaded end ofthe bolt and spaced from the arm by a washer. A spacer 34 is circumposedon the shank and spaces the arm 26 from the vertical support 16, so thatthe arm 26 is free for curvilinear swinging movement about the centralfulcrum or pivot point 24, intermediate the end portions 28 and 30- ofthe arm.

The end portion 28 of the lever arm 26 is formed with a transverseaperture 36, by virtue of which a rather sturdy flexible element 38,preferably in the nature of a heavy duty wire, is attached to the endportion 28. The flexible element 38 is tied to the aperture 36 and has alower end portion 40, which is inserted through an eyelet 42 and wrappedaround itself, as at 44, so as to secure the lower end to the eyelet 40.The eyelet 40 is connected to to an eyelet 46 by an interconnectingllexible element or wire 48, as shown in FIGURE 4. The eyelets may be inthe nature of loop ends on the tiexible element.

The eyelet 46 is formed as an integral end of the connecting wire 48 andis attached to a centrally upstanding eyelet 50' on an annular weight52, the weight 52 having upper and lower flat faces and beingsubstantially round or annular, though such configuration is merelyexemplary.

The weight 52 is held in a cup-like seat 54, which has a bottom wall 56and an annular side Wall 58, by means of a heat fusible seal 60, whichmay be wax or the like material that, when in a solid state, would causea rm adhesive seating of the weight in the cup-like seat or socket 54..The seat or socket 54 is supported in a horizontal position by anupstanding support 62, which is substantially arcuate and has its lowerend secured to a mounting foot 64 that is fixedly superimposed on theupper face 18 of the plate, along the side edge portion 15 and adjacentthe end edge 20. It is to be noted that the socket-like seat is spacedabove the plate so that the majority of the undersurface and side wallof the socketlike seat is exposed to the surrounding atmosphere.

The weight 52 when secured by the meltable adhering adhesive substance60 in the socket or seat 54 holds the lever arm 26 in an inoperativeposition, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The opposing end portion 30 of the centrally pivoted lever arm orcontrol member 26 is provided with a transverse aperture 66 to receiveone end of a heavy wire 68, which constitutes an elongated exible singleelement that has its upper end 70 inserted in the aperture 66 andwrapped around the adjoining portion of the wire so as to anchor theupper end of the wire to the lever arm. The lower end 72 of the flexibleelement or wire 68 is attached to an eyelet 74 on the upper fiat surfaceof a conical weight 76 by having its lower end 78 inserted through theeyelet and wrapped around itself.

The weight 76 is heavier than the weight 52 so that, when the weight 52is released from its adhered position in the socket, consequent uponmelting of the adhering substance by a rise in temperature, the weight76 will cause the lever arm 26 to move about its central fulcrum orpivot point 24, the weight 76 moving, under gravitational force,downwardly and swinging the arm 26 about its fulcrum 24.

Means is provided, responsive to the downward gravitational movement ofthe weight 76, for producing an indication means of the fact that therehas been a rise in temperature, such as caused by a fire, so as to givean alarm, which would be noticeable by one who is deaf and blind,through the use of the olfactory sense of the person.

Such means comprises the provision of a receptacle 80, which is mountedon the top wall 18 of the supporting plate along the side edge portionand adjacent the end 22, the receptacle being disposed immediately belowthe free gravitational path of movement of the weight 76.

The receptacle 80 is adapted to contain a liquid substance 82, whichwould be extremely effective to the olfactory senses of individuals, sothat the same would be smelled, even above and distinguishable overodors that would emanate from smoldering or burning fires. Thereceptacle 80 is closed off by a frangible top closure or Wall 84, whichseals the substance 82 within the receptacle so that, until the pointedend of the conical weight 76 pierces and breaks the frangible closure84, the odor from the substance 82 is not released.

Accordingly, one of the multiple signal means of the present inventionincludes a means which gives off an odor so that it can be recognized bythe olfactory sense of an individual, the means comprising the directgravitational movement of the pointed weight 76 so as to break theenclosure for the substance 82 and release the odor thereof to thesurrounding air.

Audible signal means 86 is provided and is positioned on the uppersurface 18 of the support plate and includes a siren or horn 88, whichhas its housing 90 mounted by a fastener 92 on the upper surface 18 ofthe support plate, so that the same is disposed in a horizontal positionraised above the upper surface of the support plate. The siren ispowered by electrical energy, supplied through self-contained batteries(not shown), operation of which is controlled by switch means throughconductors 94.

Visual signal means 96 is provided and includes a pair of lamps 98 and100, which are mounted in a casing 102, the lamp 100 being verticallydisposed and upstanding from the casing and the lamp 9S beinghorizontally disposed and projecting outwardly from the casing. Thelamps are controlled by batteries 104 and are each provided with an onand off switch 106 and 108, as shown in FIGURE 6. The lamp 100 is of theflashing type, while the lamp 98 is similar, both having blinking bulbs.

Means is provided and is responsive to the released downward swingingmovement of the lever arm 26, caused by the weight 76, forsimultaneously actuating the visual means 96 and the audible means 86.The actuating means 110 includes a blade contact arm 112, which ispivoted on a contact carrier 114 that is mounted on a horizontalsupporting plate 116, carried by the upstanding supporting arm 16. Thecontact arm 112 consists of two knife blade contacts 112a and 112b whichhave their inner ends pivoted, as at 118 and 120, to the upstanding endof angle brackets 122, which are fixed on the contact carrier 114 andsupport contact screws 124 for reception of contacts 126 for theconductors for the visual and audible signal means.

The outer ends of the blades 112a and 112b are joined together by anon-conductive outer end portion or enlargement 128, which terminates ina projecting knob 130. The knob 130 is formed with a transverse opening132, through which the wire 68 is passed, as shown in FIGURE 2. In thisfashion, the end 130 of the movable contact members or blades 112g and112b is anchored to the line 68, vso that the line cannot move relativethereto and the movable contact arm 112 will be carried downwardly aboutthe pivots 118 and 120, by the weight 76, as the lever arm 26 movesabout the fulcrum 24. When such occurs, the blades 112a and 112b willengage fixed contacts 134 and 136 for the electrical conductors of thebatteries for the audible and visual indicating means.

It can thus be seen that the alarm 10 can be set in a potentialoperational condition by providing a film of wax or similar substance 62in the seat 54 for the weight S2 and holding the weight 52 in placeuntil it is securely sealed in its seated position in the seat or socket54. Such sealed arrangement will cock the lever arm 26 into a tiltedposition with the gravitational Weight 76 raised above the receptacle 80and the movable actuating means 110 having the arms 112a and 112b in anupward position about their pivots 118 and 120.

Accordingly, the circuits for the battery actuated siren and the lightswill be open and the substance 82 in the receptacle 80 will not becapable of being smelled, since the frangible wall or closure 84 willseal off the receptacle 80.

Under given danger conditions, where the temperature of the airsurrounding the alarm will rise, the seal 62 will be melted and theweight 52 will be released, so that the heavier gravity driven weight 76will swing the lever arm 26 about the fulcrum 24 and the weight 76 willbreak the closure 84 and permit the substance 82 to ow out into thesurrounding air, where it can be smelled. Simultaneously, the weight 76in its gravitational movement, through the secure anchored connection ofthe flexible element or line 68 with the non-conductive outer endportion 130 of the knife blade switch contacts, will cause the blades t0move about their pivots and to make contact with the fixed contacts 134and 136 and complete the electrical circuits for the battery poweredsiren and the constant and flashing lights or illumination means 98 and100.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that the alarm, although compact,inexpensive and extremely portable, will give off multiple indicationsof the presence of a fire hazard, since it will have a warning appeal tothe senses of smell, sight and hearing.

If desired, the audible signal means and the visual signal means can bestructurally disassociated from the support plate 14 and the supportingmeans 12 and disposed in other parts of the room or other rooms of thedwelling.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fire alarm comprising an audible signal means, electrical powermeans for actuating said audible signal means, a visual signal means,electrical power means for actuating said visual signal means, odorproducing signal means, means for actuating said odor producing signalmeans, .a common control means for all of saidactuating means and meansnormally retaining said control means in an inoperative relation andresponsive to a rise in ternperature for rendering said control meansoperative whereby said audible signal means, visual signal means andodor producing means are operative to alert the senses of a person tothe fact that a high temperature condition indicative of the presence ofa fire is present.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein odor producing means includes acontainer adapted to contain an odor producing substance and saidcontainer having a frangible portion which when broken releases the odorof the Substance tothe atmosphere around the alarm.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said control means includes agravitational weight adapted to break the frangible portion of thecontainer.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said control means includeselectrical circuits for the power means of the audible and visual signalmeans, fixed contacts in said circuits, movable contacts cooperativewith the xed contacts to complete the circuit and gravity driven meanscarrying said movable contacts.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said control means includes aweight, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, a flexible elementconnected to one end of the lever and supporting the weight and saidretaining means being associated with the other end of the lever andmeans connecting the flexible element to the movable contacts.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said last means includes anon-conductive end portion on the movable contacts, said end portionhaving a transverse bore through which the flexible element fixedlypasses.

7. The invention of claim 5, wherein said retaining means includes aflexible element connected to the other end of the lever, a member onsaid last ilexible element, a seat means for said member and means forreleasably anchoring said member in the seat means.

8. The invention of claim 7, wherein said last named means includes afusible connection releasably adhering the member in the seat means.

9. The invention of claim 7, wherein said seat means includes a socketin which the member is adapted to seat and fusible means releasably xingsaid member in the socket with the fusible means being adapted to meltunder high temperature conditions to release the member from the socket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 655,057 7/1900 Carleton 340-229 X734,906 7/1903 Long et al. 340--227-1 2,013,466 9/1935 Jones 116-1062,224,894 12/ 1940 Brendler 340-63 2,317,942 4/1943 Sabini 116--106 XFOREIGN PATENTS 940,194 12/1948 France.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

1. A FIRE ALARM COMPRISING AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL MEANS, ELECTRICAL POWERMEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID AUDIBLE SIGNAL MEANS, A VISUAL SIGNAL MEANS,ELECTRICAL POWER MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VISUAL SIGNAL MEANS, ODORPRODUCING SIGNAL MEANS, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID ODOR PRODUCING SIGNALMEANS, A COMMON CONTROL MEANS FOR ALL OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS AND MEANSNORMALLY RETAINING SAID CONTROL MEANS IN AN INOPERATIVE RELATION ANDRESPONSIVE TO A RISE IN TEMPERATURE FOR RENDERING SAID CONTROL MEANSOPERATIVE WHEREBY SAID AUDIBLE SIGNAL MEANS, VIAUAL SIGNAL MEANS ANDODOR PRODUCING MEANS ARE OPERATIVE TO ALERT THE SENSES OF A PERSON TOTHE FACT THAT A HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITION INDICATIVE OF THE PRESENCE OFA FIRE IS PRESENT.